- A
Hot tier
Correct. The Hot tier is optimized for frequent read/write access and offers the lowest latency, which is needed for daily active video editing and streaming.
- B
Cool tier
Why wrong: Incorrect. The Cool tier is for data accessed infrequently (less than once a month). It has slightly higher latency and early deletion penalties, making it unsuitable for daily active use.
- C
Archive tier
Why wrong: Incorrect. The Archive tier is for long-term backup and compliance data that is rarely accessed. Retrieval time is hours, which is not acceptable for frequent access.
- D
Premium tier
Why wrong: Incorrect. Premium tier is for block blobs with low, consistent latency (single-digit milliseconds) but is more expensive. For standard video files, Hot tier provides sufficient performance at lower cost.
DP-900 Practice Question: Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure
This DP-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe considerations for working with non-relational data on azure. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A media company stores large video files in Azure Blob Storage. The videos are accessed frequently for the first 30 days after upload, then rarely for the next 180 days. After that, they are only needed for compliance and are never accessed. Which access tier should be used for the first 30 days to minimize costs while maintaining low latency?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Clue:
"never"Why it matters: Absolute qualifier. True only if the statement has zero exceptions — be cautious of options that seem obvious but break down in edge cases.
Clue:
"minimum / minimize"Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Hot tier
The Hot tier is the correct choice for the first 30 days because it provides the lowest latency access and highest throughput for frequently accessed data, which matches the requirement of frequent access during this period. While the Hot tier has the highest storage cost per GB, it has no retrieval costs, making it cost-effective for high-access patterns. The other tiers introduce either retrieval fees (Cool), high latency (Archive), or unnecessary cost (Premium) for this use case.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Hot tier
Why this is correct
Correct. The Hot tier is optimized for frequent read/write access and offers the lowest latency, which is needed for daily active video editing and streaming.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "first", "never", "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Cool tier
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The Cool tier is for data accessed infrequently (less than once a month). It has slightly higher latency and early deletion penalties, making it unsuitable for daily active use.
- ✗
Archive tier
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The Archive tier is for long-term backup and compliance data that is rarely accessed. Retrieval time is hours, which is not acceptable for frequent access.
- ✗
Premium tier
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Premium tier is for block blobs with low, consistent latency (single-digit milliseconds) but is more expensive. For standard video files, Hot tier provides sufficient performance at lower cost.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose the Cool tier thinking it saves money on storage for the first 30 days, but they overlook the retrieval costs and the fact that Hot tier is actually cheaper for frequently accessed data due to zero retrieval fees.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure Blob Storage access tiers are managed at the blob level, and the Hot tier offers sub-millisecond latency for both read and write operations, ideal for active datasets. The Cool tier has a 30-day minimum storage duration penalty if data is deleted or moved earlier, which could increase costs if the company transitions data before 30 days. The Archive tier requires rehydration to Hot or Cool before reading, and the rehydration process can take up to 15 hours for standard priority, making it unsuitable for any scenario requiring immediate access.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DP-900 question test?
Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure — This question tests Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Hot tier — The Hot tier is the correct choice for the first 30 days because it provides the lowest latency access and highest throughput for frequently accessed data, which matches the requirement of frequent access during this period. While the Hot tier has the highest storage cost per GB, it has no retrieval costs, making it cost-effective for high-access patterns. The other tiers introduce either retrieval fees (Cool), high latency (Archive), or unnecessary cost (Premium) for this use case.
What should I do if I get this DP-900 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first", "never", "minimum / minimize". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This DP-900 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the DP-900 exam.
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